9^th Channel Director General Kakha Bekauri accuses government of putting pressure on journalists.  According to him, everything is being done for professional journalists not to move to his broadcaster.  Bekauri spoke on the given issue in detail in an interview with Rezonansi newspaper, issued on 22 March. 

According to Bekauri, Chairman of the Georgian National Communications Commission Kakha Bekauri visited Rustavi 2 broadcasting company.  “He literally banged his fists on a table telling the journalists not to move to the 9^th Channel,” Kakha Bekauri told Rezonansi.  According to him, employment contracts of Rustavi 2 journalists have been changed and according to the changes those who will move to the 9^th Channel will have to pay serious fines. 

According to Kakha Bekauri, due to these problems the staff of the 9^th Channel has not been fully hired yet.  It has only been decided that Imeda Darsalia will Anchor the newscast and Irina Tevdorashvili will be Bekauri’s public-political advisor. 

Despite all the problems the Director General of the 9^th Channel hopes that the TV-Company will launch broadcasting at the beginning of April.